After second monkeypox case Centre mandates screening of foreign travellers

New Delhi : The Centre on Monday asked for a strict health screening of all foreign travellers at airports to contain the spread of monkeypox, as India reported its confirmed second case from Kerala.

A meeting was attended by airport and port health officers and regional directors from regional offices of health and family welfare.

"The centre is reviewing Points of Entries (PoEs) health actions at international airports and ports. The airport and port health officers were advised to ensure strict health screening of all arriving international travellers which can minimize the risk of importation of monkeypox cases into the country. They were advised and re-oriented in clinical presentation of monkeypox disease," a statement from the Union Health Ministry said.

Further stated that there should be effective coordination between state admin, bureau of immigration, airport and port health offices.

A 31-year-old man from Kannur in Kerala tested positive for monkeypox which was the second confirmed monkeypox case. On July 15, the country reported its first monkeypox case in Kerala. The infected person was returning from UAE to Trivandrum airport.